Centrifugal fluid loading device



Dec. 8, 1959 c. w. PHELPS CENTRIFUGAL FLUID LOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1956 if --Y- 4f Z United v`States Patent O 2,915,901 CENTRIFUGAL FLUID LOADING DEVICE Mich., assignor to Gen- Charles W. Phelps, Birmingham,

Mich., a corporation eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, of Delaware This invention relates to the centrifugal lluidloading of elements to be tested and either statically or dynamically balanced. More particularly it relates to the centrifugal fluid loading of rotating elements which normally operate in either a partially or entirely fluid filled condition.

Cast elements which are normally operated in a uid filled condition cannot be accurately balanced in a dry condition since their rotating or revolving center may not be the cavity center. This is due to casting, forming or machining variations. Similar diiculties are encountered with fabricated elements. It has been proposed to load such elements with the same quantity of fluid normally contained within the element while so fluid loaded. The device herein shown and described accomplishes lluid loading of the element with quick transference of tluid into the element cavity and quick return of the fluid to its reservoir upon completion of the balancing operation. Elements may therefore be balanced under conditions more nearly approaching their normal operation.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a fluid loader embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the uid on line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing the loader of Figure 1 in operation.

Frame is provided with a tapered locater 12 on its bottom surface which is adapted to be seated in a complementary opening in balancing machine spindle 14. Frame 10 includes a lower plate 16 from which taper 12 depends, upper plate 20 and vertical risers 18 connecting plate 16 to plate 20. An axially centered opening 22 is provided in plate 20. Annular mounting ring 24 is disposed about opening 22l and secured to the upper surface of plate 20. Ring 24 may be inwardly tapered to a sharp edge 26 which is in alignment with the edge of opening 22. The outer edge of ring 24 may provide a pilot for the element to be balanced. Vertical fluid stabilizer fins 28 may be circumferentially spaced on and secured to the upper surface of ring 24. These fins will extend into the fluid cavity of the element to be balanced and aid in rotating the loaded uid with the element. Inverted frusto-conical reservoir 30 may be secured to the undersurface of plate with its open end 32 aligned with opening 22. Any convenient method of securing may be used. Reservoir 30 may extend downwardly between plates 16 and 20. The wall 36 of reservoir 30 is outwardly inclined so that the bottom 34 is of smaller area than the open top 32. A plurality of vertical fluid stabilizer fins 38 are secured to the inner surface of vertical wall 36. A predetermined quantity of liuid 40 may be held in reservoir 30. When the unit is rotated, ns 38 aid in applying rotary motion to the uid contained within reservoir 30 and prevent circumferential creep of the lluid due to its inertia.

Frame 10 is mounted on loader of Figure 1 taken the balancing spindle 14 for them in operation and to balance v ICC rotation with the spindle and accurately balanced. An element 42, which normally operates in a uid filled condition, is piloted onring 24 and secured to plate 20 to prepare it for dynamic balancing. Stabilizers 28 then extend into the cavity of clement 42. The balancer is rotated and frame 10, with its reservoir 30 and element 42, is rotated with the spindle 14 of the balancer. Stabilizers 3S in the reservoir 30 act as paddles and aid in rotational acceleration of the lluid 40. As the centrifugal force increases on liuid 40, the uid will tend to be displaced along the inner surface of wall 36. Since this Wall is outwardly inclined from the axis of rotation, centrifugal force will cause the fluid to move vertically along the inclined surface of wall 36 and to pass out of reservoir 30 through opening 22 and into element 42. The quantity'of uid is so calibrated that it approximates the amount of uid normally suspended in element 42 under its usual operational conditions. When all ofthe fluid is displaced from reservoir 30 into element 42, as shown at 44, the element 42 may be balanced dynamically or statically while rotating. Since frame 10 and reservoir 30 are balanced prior to the attachment of element 42, any unbalance occurring is due to the unbalanced condition of element 42 in its normally fluid loaded condition.

After the completion of the balancing operation the balancer is stopped and the fluid in element 42 flows down the upper inclined surface of ring 24 and returns to reservoir 30 through opening 22. The balanced element 42 is removed from the frame l0. The frame and the reservoir with its balancing fluid 46` are then in a condition of readiness for receiving another element and the operation may be repeated to balance another element.

By use of a centrifugal loader embodying this invention, normally rotatable duid-containing elements may be loaded with the amount of fluid normally contained in operation and be more perfectly balanced with consideration being given to casting and manufacturing irregularities such as the casting variation shown at 46. The element 42 is balanced at this time about its true rotational center in a condition more nearly approximating its normal running condition. The correct calibrated amount of lluid is retained Within the loader and provision has been made to quickly place it within the rotatable element to be balanced and remove it therefrom upon completion of the balancing operation.

`Therefore balancing accuracy is improved at no increase in cost of operational time.

What is claimed is:

1. In the art of rotatably balancing a rotatable uid ycontainer under a fluid loaded condition, a rotatable iframe, a uid reservoir mounted in said frame and having a vertically inclined Wall, means interconnecting said frame and said container for positioning and retaining l"said container above said reservoir to receive fluid discavity elements, said apparatus including a fluid reservoir of inverted frusto-conical configuration having an 'open top, a support for said reservoir, said support having an opening complementary with said reservoir openv ing, a pilot surrounding said support opening for receiving a fluid cavity element to be balanced, said reservoir and said support being rotatable to force fluid in said ,reservoir through said opening by centrifugal action and into said uid cavity element whereby said elements may be balanced in a iluid filled condition.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 having a plurality of fluid stabilizer ns operatively attached to said support and extending into said container being balanced.

3 il, y f 4. The apparatuslofA claim 2 having a pluralityoffiiuidV '6.*In dynamicbalancing apparatusfor'balancing rotatstabilizer ns in said reservoir. p able uid cqntaillers,y a support having a pilot secured 'Y 5. A centrifugal uid loader for loading rotatable thereto for receiving one of said containers, an opening uid-containing elements with fluid whereby said elein said support and aligned with said one container, a ments :maybe-*balanced in-a iluid lled conditionsaid 5 fluid reservoir secured to said support and aligned with Y loaderpornprising a rotatable luid` reservoir having an said opening and havingY a conical side, said support and outwardly` slanting'side and an open top,1upper and-lowcontainer and reservoir being rotatable to displace nid er support members having'spaid reservoir -secured thereupwardly in said reservopand into said container by ,betweenys/aid upper support memberhaving an opening centrifugal-action, complementary to the open top of said reservoir, a locat- 10 Y igfpilt scured to the top of said upper Isupportrnerl'gl- "RferencesCtedintheile' of thisf patent 1: rfan a aptedtoreceive one .ofV said devices toY e 'Y Y Y mbaianed, first venian nuid Stabnizer ansY iqcated `in UNITED STATES PATENTS zsaidresfrvvir andsecond'uid.stabilizer-fnsperipherally 1,183,745 Y, Ledyard1 May16, .1916 .l arranged around the opening of said upper support mem- 15 2 279 977 Foresman ,et al 1 Y April 14 1942 ybere and operatively securedto said support member,A and 'i n imeansffor rotating'said apparatusrwhereby.fluidV in said 232'3637 Williams July 6 1943 

